Recent Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week, March 28, 2005

Date posted on Federal Register: March 21  Final rule transmitting airworthiness
directive (AD 2005-06-10)  FR Doc 05-5387  Engine fire protection
Summary of Situation: Boeing model B767-200 and -300 series airplanes. Emplace
necessary vapor barrier seal to prevent flammable fluids from leaking onto parts
of a hot exhaust system after engine shutdown on the ground, which could cause
an uncontained fire.
Action Date & Comments: AD effective April 25.  Manufacturing defect. Accomplish
within 60 months. One commentator requested 84 months to comply; FAA thought 60
months was generous enough.  Action affects 723 airplanes worldwide, of which
228 are in U.S. registry. Cost is estimated at $445 per airplane.

Date posted on Federal Register: March 22  Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM),
containing AD  FR Doc 05-5573 Docket No. FAA-2005-20660  Electrical system
safety
Summary of Situation: Boeing B777-200 and -300 series airplanes. A missing tie
plate permits wire bundles going to center console in flight deck to chafe.
Chafing could result in loss of communication, navigation and engine fire
control systems.
Action Date & Comments: Comments due May 6.  Manufacturing defect, from
ambiguous installation drawing, resulting in missing tie plate.  Inspect within
18 months; repair wiring and, if necessary, install tie plate.  Action affects
289 airplanes in worldwide service. Cost, $74, is insignificant compared to the
potential for in-flight grief.

Date posted on Federal Register: March 23  NPRM  FR Doc 05-5699 Docket No. FAA-
2005-20687  Emergency lighting
Summary of Situation: Airbus model A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. Modify
the floor path emergency lighting system and marking to provide for adequate
illumination during an emergency evacuation.
Action Date & Comments: Comments due April 22.  FAA action emulates that of
French Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC).  The system does not
comply with certification requirements, as none of the connected components will
illuminate if there is a "vertical separation" of the fuselage forward of exit
door number 1.  Action affects 236 airplanes in U.S. registry at a cost of about
$1,580 per airplane.

Date posted on Federal Register: March 23  NPRM  FR Doc 05-5698 Docket No. FAA-
2005-20689  Fuel system safety
Summary of Situation: Boeing B757-200 and -300 series airplanes. Reworking spar
bonding and inspecting to make sure electrical bonding jumper is installed
between fuel feed hose and adjacent wing station. To prevent an ignition source
for fuel vapor and resulting explosion (ASW note: part of the SFAR 88 effort).
Action Date & Comments: Comments due May 9.  The FAA says, "If the bulkhead
fittings of the engine fuel feed tubes are not electrically bonded, there is a
potential for arcing ... at the interface of the engine fuel feed tube and the
front spar during a lightning strike, which could provide a possible ignition
source for the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank and result in a fuel tank
explosion."  (ASW comment: how is the wing safety percentage of non-flammability
able to still exist in the Monte Carlo calculation when these sources of
ignition are being found? See ASW, March 14)  Action effects1,040 airplanes
worldwide, of which 700 are in U.S. registry, at a cost of $700 to $1,300 per
airplane.

Source: U.S. Federal Register

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